Inside a darkened house looms a column of TVs littered with VHS tapes, a pagan shrine to forgotten analog gods. The screens crackle and pop endlessly with monochrome vistas of static-white noise permeating the brain and fogging… MoreInside a darkened house looms a column of TVs littered with VHS tapes, a pagan shrine to forgotten analog gods. The screens crackle and pop endlessly with monochrome vistas of static-white noise permeating the brain and fogging concentration. But you must fight the urge to relax: this is no mere movie night. Those obsolete spools contain more than just magnetic tape. They are imprinted with the very soul of evil. (c) Magnet

Inconsistency aside, this franchise remains a shot in the arm for horror fans, and it would be great to see them continue to make it an annual tradition with new writers/directors sharing billing each time.

It is a pleasure to see that this much superior sequel comprises four efficient stories that can be quite scary and make use of their filming technology to… MoreIt is a pleasure to see that this much superior sequel comprises four efficient stories that can be quite scary and make use of their filming technology to their advantage. Still, it is a shame though that the wrap-around story is so awful that it nearly ruins the whole experience.

Nate Zoebl

The second entry in the found footage horror anthology (and less than a year after the first to boot) is not as clever as V/H/S but more polished, better paced,… MoreThe second entry in the found footage horror anthology (and less than a year after the first to boot) is not as clever as V/H/S but more polished, better paced, and full of enough ingenuity to recommend, especially for horror fans. In my review of the first film I championed a shorter format, giving an audience the thrills they crave faster rather than slogging through an hour of slow buildup. The results are still fairly hit or miss, though none of the four segments is a misfire per se. The weakest is probably the last, ""Slumber Party Alien Abduction," where the poor camera quality makes it hard to tell what is actually going on. The best, by far, is The Raid director Gareth Evans' "Safe Haven" about a team of journalists picking perhaps the worst day to tour a creepy cult's compound, notably during the apocalypse the cult predicted. This one takes a bit to wind up but when all hell breaks loose it goes nuts with glory. The wraparound segment tying everything together is more palatable and points to a promising mythology around the collection of these haunted VHS tapes that people keep watching and then dying over. All together, this is a concept that just works for horror and I'll welcome presumed sequels as they come off the assembly line. This is found footage done right, with faster payoffs, more variety, and greater focus and ingenuity. If you enjoyed the first film, or are a fan of horror anthologies in general, then pop in V/H/S/2.
Nate's Grade: B

Alex roy

V/H/S/2 is an entertaining decent follow-up to the surprisingly different type of found footage film. The result here is a decent film that uses the same old… MoreV/H/S/2 is an entertaining decent follow-up to the surprisingly different type of found footage film. The result here is a decent film that uses the same old formula, but manages to cook up entertaining horror tales. I really thought that the original didn't need a sequel, but what they did here was a decent affair that can appeal to fans of the original film. V/H/S/2 is a film that could have been great, but is a case of having a few stories that are not as good, and by the end of the film, you realize that more effort could have been put into making this follow-up. This isn't a bad film by any means, but is one that could have been better considering the originality of the first film. With this sequel, it feels like another found footage film with nothing new to add to the genre. While the first V/H/S did something different in the genre, this sequel takes the ideas from the first film, and adds new stories, but doesn't do anything to really stretch the concept even further. Decent overall, but not great, V/H/S/2 is a film that covers familiar ground without revamping its ideas. The picture suffers from a bit of predictability, luckily some stories, although not all good have a few standouts, which is sure to delight genre fans. As long as the filmmakers know when to draw the line, I think that the V/H/S franchise won't be too tiresome if they make another sequel. If they do, then I hope the third film is the last. Overall with good stories are present here, but not enough to really make this a standout sequel.

Kevin Cookman

One of the best horror films I've ever seen. It's a shame a lot of the potentially fascinating plots of these vignettes aren't more explored,… MoreOne of the best horror films I've ever seen. It's a shame a lot of the potentially fascinating plots of these vignettes aren't more explored, but, hey, the mystery makes the scares that much more magnificent.

MisterYoda ?

three stars

Markus Robinson

Much like in V/H/S, there are some excellent examples of well executed low budget special effects throughout. And all things considered (and by that I mean the… MoreMuch like in V/H/S, there are some excellent examples of well executed low budget special effects throughout. And all things considered (and by that I mean the budget) "V/H/S/2" is a success. But is this better than the original? Well, I wouldn't say that. Where the first one was VERY hit and miss in regards to the entertainment factor of each short, it was somewhat new and innovative in its structure. The sequel, aside from Tjahjanto and Evans' short which was exceptional, dances with being an "average horror" the entire time.
Read the rest of my review at: http://www.examiner.com/review/v-h-s-2-poor-dog
Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus
Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland

Mike S

Upping the ante in both adrenaline and general freakishness,<i>V/H/S/2</i> is a pretty intense ride! Due to the unevenness of the different segments… MoreUpping the ante in both adrenaline and general freakishness,<i>V/H/S/2</i> is a pretty intense ride! Due to the unevenness of the different segments (aside from the acting not always being convincing) I wouldn't go as far as to say that I loved it, but it's a great and thrilling pulse-pounder that pinnacles in the chapter featuring a macabre Indonesian cult. Surely a must-see if you're into the found footage genre and a definite improvement upon the first film.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mikes-Movie-Reviews/281824101875153?ref=hl

paul oh

The overall pacing of VHS-2 not only heightens the general atmosphere of the short films but makes for great entertainment. From amazing short films about… MoreThe overall pacing of VHS-2 not only heightens the general atmosphere of the short films but makes for great entertainment. From amazing short films about aliens to supernatural cults, VHS-2 is frickin amazing in every way possible.NOTE: The violence may be a little too much for some viewers but apart from that, its just solid horror.

Everett Johnson

****
"V/H/S 2" is the follow-up to "V/H/S" which came out last year. It's an anthology film based around two investigators that find… More****
"V/H/S 2" is the follow-up to "V/H/S" which came out last year. It's an anthology film based around two investigators that find a bunch of vhs tapes, and the stories shown, are what's on those tapes. Here there are 4 stories(along with the investigators story). One is about a guy who get an eye implant and starts to see ghosts. Another is an awesome zombies in the woods story. The third is one of the most brutal, ultra violent, craziest pieces of film of the year(maybe of the last 10 years). It's about an Indonesian cult, that really has to be seen to believe. I wanna type about it, but the less you know about that the better. Finally, a slumber party that encounters an alien invasion. Each story would make a great campfire story to tell and scare people. This is a big improvement of the first movie, which was a decent movie to begin with. It's original, very gory, and has a couple genuine scares. Probably my favorite horror movie of the year(or at least close to the "Evil Dead" remake). No known actors, and a limited budget, but it just shows you don't need all that for an effective horror film. Also, if you haven't seen the first movie, no problem as it has nothing to do with it. Just a new set of tapes found. Horror fans should definitely check it out, and hope for a third movie, because this series is getting better and better.

Aaron Neuwirth

Doctor: You might see some glitches...
A horror anthology is one of the easiest types of films to see as hit or miss. Not only can some of the segments… MoreDoctor: You might see some glitches...
A horror anthology is one of the easiest types of films to see as hit or miss. Not only can some of the segments either be good, bad, or just okay, but the film itself can drag depending on how many short films we are watching and whether or not the connective tissue between each film (if there is any) is effective. V/H/S suffered from this issue. Some of the segments were better than others; one segment was straight up terrible, in my eyes; and I really disliked the wraparound material to keep it connected in some fashion. What is great about V/H/S 2 is how it manages to correct most of these issues. It is a leaner and meaner experience. I had less issue with the wraparounds, I enjoyed all the segments, the film does not drag, and the creativity is even more prevalent throughout. There may still be curiosity regarding why digital camera footage has been put onto V/H/S tapes, but the film is an effective horror experience overall.
read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

Liam Gadd

''V/H/S/2'' does what a sequel should do: bring more to the table. Decent effects, strong suspense and an air of mystery throughout make… More''V/H/S/2'' does what a sequel should do: bring more to the table. Decent effects, strong suspense and an air of mystery throughout make this a satisfying horror flick.

Dann Michalski

As gruesome and vulgar as the original, V/H/S/2 is a collection of the disgusting and the bizarre. The film is an anthology of horror tales that includes… MoreAs gruesome and vulgar as the original, V/H/S/2 is a collection of the disgusting and the bizarre. The film is an anthology of horror tales that includes ghosts, zombies, demons, and aliens. However, the storytelling isn't very good and is mainly interested in delivering shocks and jump scares. Additionally, the found footage conceit doesn't work and seems contrived. V/H/S/2 is an ugly, morose film that's incredibly disturbing.